Distractions

I just got home from teaching my regulars at World Gym. Have I ever mentioned how much I love these people? They are amazing--each and everyone of them. I have received so much love, support and wisdom from them, they have no idea. They are a fairly large group, ever-changing, since it's a day class some of them I only see occasionally depending on their work and families. A lot of them have small children and come rushing in after trying to leave them in the day care, some are retirees and some sneak away from work just to take the class.

Today was one of those days. Everyone must've been running around because over half the class was late. The class before me has a revolving team of teachers, each with their own style and sense of timing *cough cough* so my class never starts at the same time. People get "trained" that the class starts late so they come late and then lo and behold, the class will start on time. This was a lo and behold day.

So I'm going through a meditation and the door keeps opening with people rushing in and I just smile and keep going with more people rushing in and so on. Now, my regular regulars have their eyes closed doing their neck rolls and my not so regulars are struggling to keep their eyes closed and remember which way to roll their necks and my occasionals and newbies are craning their necks looking behind them each time the door opens. I welcome each person with a smile and finally say "well, we are getting a true yoga practice today! Learning to focus with distractions, this is great!!"

Some people did not agree. I didn't even need to use my "gift", I could see it in their faces....they were pissed. Really, pissed at yoga...what a concept. Nonetheless, I persevere, trying to turn pissed to blissed...hahaha, not funny I know....and we make it to relaxation pose. Well, all except for one gentleman who made it there well before the others. As a result, he was well into a deep rumbling snore by the time the rest caught up. This did not bode well for some of my already distracted yogis. I, of course, being me, am completely amused at the whole thing. So I decide to have a silent relaxation. Well, except for the tunes my gentleman friend was playing....

Bad choice. I have never seen so much fidgeting. Course, you knew right away who had significant others with similar "singing". They went right into a deep rest. The others, not so much..... I actually had people go complain at the front desk about how distracting the class was! A beautiful woman came up to me after class and started to let me know how distracting this man was and he did it the night before and she was really having a hard time with it. I smiled and said, "hmmm, he must really need the rest, I'm glad he's able to find it here..."

And she instantly "got" it. Yoga is not about finding that perfect peaceful world and relaxing in it. Yoga is about creating that perfect peacefulness inside of yourself, regardless of what is going on around you. And better yet, learning to accept your surroundings and feelings not feeling attached to any particular outcome. So if you are distracted, you simply notice "hmm, I'm distracted" and not try and change it or fix it. You're distracted. Breath goes in, breath goes out. That man has a loud snore. Breath goes in, breath goes out.... There was a noise...breath goes in, breath goes out....ahh, there's a space between the breath...quiet.

Although I have to admit that I was supremely amused at the thought of what those people would have had to say about my proxy toxin releasing class last week..... talk about distractions!!!!!